Adcock Stanton or rapidex....

[BoltonBullfinch]

I'm after a half decent centrepin but am not too sure what to get as there are tons of them on the second hand market. And some like the adcock Stanton seem to have loads of variations of the one reel.
I have pretty much bashed it down to the two above named reels, but am still open to suggestions.
To be perfectly honest it would be used more on stillwaters rather than rivers, but will get the odd day out on a river. It will be a Xmas present from the mother in law.

Thanks
BB

[Mole-Patrol]

If you get an Adcocks Stanton make sure that it has a ratchet. A lot of them just have a spool brake so the reel is either locked or free running and if it is in good order the weight of the line between the reel and first ring will set it turning with the invariable result. To be honest I would not have an Adcocks Stanton for still water fishing. It is in my opinion a specialist river reel that demands a lot of concentration 100% of the time. Even setting the rod up requires a thought out technique to avoid over runs.

The Rapidex is I believe identical to the Trudex. This is a much nicer reel to use for still water as you have an easily reached ratchet switch and, if you need it, a friction drag that operates both ways. This is handy to stop line pulling off the reel in windy conditions without seriously impacting on your ability to wind in. The Rapidex / Trudex will be cheaper than the Adcocks Stanton too.

[MaggotDrowner]

I have no experience of the Adcock but I have with the Rapidex. I own two, and one of which will be for sale when some spare parts arrive from Gary Mills. I also own a Trudex, which was mentioned by Mole-Patrol.

The Rapidex and the Trudex are similar and both were made by Youngs but they are far from identical. In my opinion the Rapidex is far superior. This is because of its ease of use.

The Rapidex has a caged construction. This essentially means around the entire spool are pillars which prevent the line falling off the spool and the horrendous tangles that occur if that ever happens. The Trudex however only has a line guard. This prevents this from happening, but only at the front of the reel. Line can still come off around the back of the spool, particularly if you are a novice caster, have "hopeless moments" (like me), or if the wind is being problematic. In addition the line guard on the Trudex is a bit of a hindrance when "batting" the spool to retrieve line.

For these reasons I use my Rapidex when casting is more frequent - light float fishing for small stuff on still waters or long trotting. My Trudex is loaded with 6lb line which I use for ledgering or indeed float fishing when I expect more of a wait between casts or bites.

Edit:
It is worth ensuring that any Trudex you buy has a line guard because they are detachable!

Honestly, of the three I'd go for a Rapidex.

[BoltonBullfinch]

It looks like the rapidex would suit me more.

Thanks
BB

[Tengisgol]

I adore my Rapidex. Absolutely never lets me down. Brilliant reels (and trust me have a few pins!).

[Old Man River]

I have both, AS for running water and Rapidex for still, both are nice reels, my AS has a ratchet, which is very useful, I dont really think the alternative without would suit me at all everything that needs to be said about both types has already been said I think.
I should probably add that I have started Wallace casting ( badly ) and the Rapidex is nowhere near as easy to " "Wallace " as the Stanton, at least I find it so.

OMR

[Olly]

MD - has about said it all. I have several of both reels. Adcock for trotting -- Rapider for either but better on stillwater for me.

Several variations for AS - with/without handles and the same both for ratchet and drag. And in different sizes as well.

Those without ratchet can be controlled - when not fishing - by an elastic band over the cork handle and around each of the reel's handles.

[Mole-Patrol]

I have taken the line guard off my Trudex as it impairs my casting. I would think that the full cage on the Rapidex may also impact on casting and cannot be removed, although it would probably make the reel more durable in the long run.

If I were choosing one reel mainly for still water and occasional river use it would be a Trudex, and a Speedia if the intended usage was reversed, i.e. more river than lake. I would only consider an Adcocks Stanton solely for river use. I have all three and they are all capable reels, but each has its own niche.

[The Tuesday Swim]

I have taken the line guard off my Trudex as it impairs my casting. I would think that the full cage on the Rapidex may also impact on casting and cannot be removed, although it would probably make the reel more durable in the long run.

If I were choosing one reel mainly for still water and occasional river use it would be a Trudex, and a Speedia if the intended usage was reversed, i.e. more river than lake. I would only consider an Adcocks Stanton solely for river use. I have all three and they are all capable reels, but each has its own niche.

I agree the Rapidex impairs casting as it has a closed cage design I use the Trudex but like Mole Patrol with the line guard taken off, this way you can do a decent cast, I don't Wallis cast but do a version that involves pulling line and accelerating the spool, (a pull cast) this works best without a line guard or cage.

[Reedling]

I know it is a newer reel but the TFG Classic is one to consider, the line guard can be taken off for casting or left on when needed. It has a ratchet but no drag. I also agree with what has been said about the Trudex reel above, it is a bit more versatile than the Rapidex if you want a type of near jack of all trades reel.